The role of gene sculptor microRNAs in human precancerous lesions

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs. These noncoding RNAs regulate the expression of target genes and inhibit the translation of target proteins at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs also play an important role in human health, from the development and differentiation of cells to the occurrence and progression of disorders such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Precancerous lesions are lesions prior to invasive carcinomas, and carcinogenesis is a very complicated process, which is multistage and the result of multigene synergy. miRNAs exert effects as both oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes by regulating target genes involved in signaling pathways. Hence, precancerous lesions are accompanied by relevant miRNA changes. Based on the morphology of miRNAs in vivo and the specificity of miRNA, various novel miRNA analysis methods have been developed, including reverse transcription quantitative PCR, enzyme analysis, molecular beacons, and deep sequencing. For example, in the laryngeal epithelial precancerous lesions, the data demonstrate that the expression of miR-10a-5p is downregulated and miR-484 is the most abundant miRNA in hepatic precancerous lesions. In this review, we discuss the functional roles of miRNAs in human precancerous lesions.

Keywords:

• miRNAs
• precancerous lesions
• therapy

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China (no 2016C33144). The English in this document has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English (for a certificate, refer http://www.textcheck.com/certificate/VYqSUq).

Author contributions

R-HW designed and wrote the article. L-YH collected the materials and reviewed the literatures. S-HZ revised the article. All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.